PROBLEM

After a successful restore, a VM is automatically added in Hyper-V Manager and can be successfully added in Failover Cluster Manager to either Cluster Node however when refreshing the Cluster in SCVMM, it does not show up any new VMs.

CAUSE

This issue can be caused by one of two scenarios:

VM Name

If the Restored VM’s name exceeds 15 characters, it would fail to be attached to SCVMM, hence you may want to change the default restored name (containing the Clone Tag and the Backup Version Timestamp).

Duplicate Cluster Invariant

As opposed to Hyper-V Manager and Failover Cluster Manager, which make use of the VM’s GUID as the unique identifier to distinguish amongst VMs, SCVMM makes use of the Cluster Invariant ID to identify VMs. This can cause problems if the original VM is still present within the same Cluster Environment as the restored VM would be assigned a new GUID but the same Cluster Invariant ID.

SOLUTION

VM Name

Ensure the restored VM’s name does not exceed 15 Characters. If it was restored with the default restore name in Altaro (which happens to be more than 15 Characters), please rename it to a shorter name in Hyper-V Manager and refresh the environment.

Duplicate Cluster Invariant

*Please ensure the VM is NOT started up prior to completing the following troubleshooting steps*

To view the Cluster Invariant ID; Open Hyper-V Manager, Right-Click on the Restored VM and go to “Settings”. Once there browse to Management / Name, and you will find the Cluster Invariant ID under the VM’s Name. You may do the same with the Original VM to confirm that the Cluster Invariant ID is indeed the same, hence duplicate.

Once ensuring that the Cluster Invariant IDs are indeed the same, simply delete the Cluster Invariant ID from the Restored VM to clear it, as it will be then assigned a new one automatically once it's added to SCVMM in due course.

Add the Restored VM to the Failover Cluster Manager through the Configure Role Option.

Refresh the SCVMM Environment, by Right-Clicking on the Cluster’s name and selecting the Refresh Option.

The VM would then be added in SCVMM with a new Cluster Invariant ID, which will then be inherited in the Failover Cluster Manager and Hyper-V Manager as well.